Question 1: Tiverton casino opponents divided

Area clergy pull out of 'Save Tiverton' over questions about the group's anonymous backers

Jennifer Bogdan JenniferBogdan

TIVERTON, R.I. — To John E. Taylor, the man at the helm of a plan to build Rhode Island's first brand-new casino, the proposal couldn't be any more modest.

It might be the first time a gambling company has suggested building a casino with a "library-inspired" design (a nod to the town's new library, a source of pride in the community, Taylor said).

But, to the Rev. John Higginbotham, whether the casino looks like a library or not, it's a source of evil — a corporate machine preying upon addictions.

"Part of being a priest or a minister is being able to speak with a prophetic voice," Higginbotham said. "So, when you see an evil within your community, which is how we see this casino, it's incumbent upon us to speak out. We're telling people clearly how bad this thing is."

But who is helping to contribute to the message of "just how bad" is something of a mystery. The opposition movement, Higginbotham said, has been influenced by two individuals he refused to identify who showed up on the doorsteps of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in late June, promising funding for the opposition movement, which they proposed to name "Save Tiverton."

The religious leaders — who have now disaffiliated from the two people who proposed the movement — had agreed to act as front men for "Save Tiverton" while protecting the identities of the two backers.

"They have sworn me to secrecy," he said.

The Tiverton Interfaith Clergy Group has met regularly for years. In addition to Higginbotham, it also includes church leaders from the area: the Revs. Patrick Crough, Missy Quay, Joseph Runner, Charles Simonson and William Sterrett. Upon discovering that they all had ethical opposition to the proposed casino, the clergy began contacting local papers with letters of opposition to it. They also warned of crime, declining property values and what they say is overstated tax relief for the town from gambling. The casino is the basis for Question 1 on the ballot in November.

The two backers read about the ministers' opposition and soon met with Higginbotham to discuss forming the grass-roots opposition group. With the clergy involved, the group numbered 30 to 40 people. Higginbotham would not disclose any of the local residents in the group but said they had not been aware of the deal between the clergy and the Save Tiverton's founders.

Twin River Management Group, of which Taylor is chairman, must win the favor of voters both statewide and in Tiverton to get the go-ahead for the $75-million gambling hall. The casino company, which owns both of the state's gambling halls, wants to shut down the Newport Grand slots parlor — where residents have repeatedly rejected plans to add table games — and transfer the Newport license to a full-fledged Tiverton casino with an attached hotel. It's a plan intended to help Rhode Island better compete with swirling casino interests in neighboring states that threaten to chip away at the state's third largest revenue source.

While Taylor has been meeting with residents and business groups and plans to open a campaign headquarters on Main Road Tuesday, Save Tiverton has been hosting forums with former U.S. Rep. Robert Steele, a one-time Connecticut congressman who warns about "the curse" of big-time gambling.

But the battle took a strange turn last week when the clergy group broke ties with Save Tiverton after pressing one of the anonymous backers to disclose his or her connections and that backer repeatedly refused. The confrontation took place after a Journal reporter asked the clergy about the backers and they were not able to provide an answer about their affiliations.

"I had asked multiple times and never got an answer," Higginbotham said, noting that he's not sure whether the people he was dealing with are Rhode Island residents. "This time, all the clergy was present, and ... he absolutely refused to name any group. He hypothetically threw out the possibility that it could be [an] American Indian tribe behind the casino, it could be unions — people like that who wouldn't want to be known."

There are three pending casinos planned for Massachusetts. The nearest is that of the Mashpee Wampanoag, for which ground was broken in April on a $1-billion development in Taunton with plans to open in 2017. That project is now on hold thanks to a lawsuit filed by a group of Taunton residents that challenges the tribe's right to the land that would serve as the 150-acre casino site.

Sean Gonsalves, a spokesman for the Mashpee Wampanoag, said, to his knowledge, the tribe has no part in any opposition group.

"I don't know who these people are," he said. "This is the first I've heard of this."

Save Tiverton has a website and a Facebook page but nowhere discloses who is involved. Higginbotham said those sites are controlled by the two anonymous backers. There is no contact information listed on the website and the backers have not responded to Facebook messages from a Journal reporter.

The sites post stories about crime near Atlantic City casinos alongside opinion pieces written by the clergy group. It warns that "spouses, children and loved ones will have to recover from the emotional, psychological and spiritual betrayal caused by a family member’s gambling addiction."

Save Tiverton has not filed any campaign expenditure documents with the state Board of Elections, which would be required if the group spent money. Richard Thornton, the board's campaign finance director, said no complaints about the group have been received.

Twin River Management Group is self-funding its campaign through a group called Citizens to Create Jobs and Protect Revenue. To date, Twin River has spent more than $491,000, primarily on advertising. A series of statewide television commercials will begin airing in about a week.

To his knowledge, Higginbotham said, the backers haven't spent any money or done any fundraising despite promising a funding stream. Higginbotham personally paid $30 to print fliers for Save Tiverton's two informational meetings this month and $80 to book a venue. The anonymous backers maintain the website and the Facebook page. They also prepped Higgenbotham for a potential debate with Taylor at a senior center that was later canceled.

The clergy, Higgenbotham said, will continue their efforts without the backers, noting that the opposition can be led "without resorting to unsavory tactics nor 'dark money.' "

— jbogdan@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7493

On Twitter: @JenniferBogdan

The R.I. Ballot Issues in November

Read a series of stories about the seven statewide bond issues on the ballot. One story will appear each week until the Nov. 8 election.

Question 1: Tiverton casino

Question 2: Restores Ethics Commission jurisdiction over General Assembly members

Question 3: New veterans home — $27 million

Question 4: University of Rhode Island projects — $45.5 million

Question 5: Improvements at Port of Davisville and Port of Providence — $70 million